written by @bkertz in the DFS Hero Discord
In cash contests, such as 50/50s, Double-Ups, and Head-to-Heads, the goal is to play not to lose. Allow your opponents to make mistakes and beat themselves. You don’t need to build one of the top-scoring lineups to win—just a safe, high-floor lineup that avoids risk.
Avoid games with bad weather. You cannot afford to take a zero from a player whose game is postponed or delayed. This is especially critical for pitchers, as even a short delay can end their outing early and cost you valuable points.
When building your cash lineup, start with pitching. Look at projected ownership and DFS Hero Optimal, and pay up for consistency. On many slates, taking the top two pitchers by salary is perfectly fine if they are also projected to be among the most owned. Avoid volatile arms and instead target pitchers with a high strikeout rate (K%) and low walk rate (BB%)—a proven combination for stability.
When deciding between multiple pitchers, give preference to those who pitch deeper into games, as this increases their chances of earning a Win bonus. Target pitchers facing teams with low wOBA or low wRC+, as these lineups are less efficient offensively. Above all, play not to lose—prioritize safe, predictable options over volatile upside.
After selecting your pitchers, fill in the hitting spots based on available salary. If you’re paying up for strong pitching, you’ll need to find lower-cost value hitters. Projected ownership can help identify these popular, safe plays.
Avoid stacking in cash games. Baseball has extreme variance, and even elite offenses can fail. Limiting yourself to no more than two hitters per team helps diversify risk. On smaller slates or when value dictates, three hitters from the same team is acceptable, but no more.
Focus on hitters with high projected ownership and favorable lineup positions—preferably batting 1–5 in the order, as they’ll see more plate appearances. When choosing value, look for low-salary catchers or underpriced hitters in advantageous matchups. Exceptions exist when a star catcher or specific matchup justifies spending up.
From a statistical standpoint, target hitters facing pitchers with poor splits against that hitter’s handedness. Don’t rely solely on lefty/righty matchups—some pitchers and hitters have reverse splits that make these situations misleading. Additionally, monitor exit velocity and launch angle over recent weeks. High exit velocity combined with consistent launch angles indicates a strong hitting profile for cash games.
Avoid volatile hitters known for power but low contact rates. For example, Giancarlo Stanton is capable of multi-home run performances, but he’s more likely to go hitless with several strikeouts. Players like this are better suited for GPPs than cash formats.
The name of the game for MLB cash contests is to play conservative, avoid unnecessary risk, and let the field beat itself. Focus on reliable pitching, value hitters with solid roles, and weather-safe environments to consistently stay above the cash line.